Re: Conversion? Gerber to 3D (.sat, .dxf, etc)

Hi James,

Actually, I have my components modeled up separately.

My primary goal is to get the top silkscreen layer converted to 3D so when I
do a wireframe rendering, the silkscreen shows up. I use wireframe
renderings with a white background for my data sheets (it gives the look of
being pencil drawn). My current method of applying an image of the
silkscreen to the surface of the PCB model works nicely for when I want full
color renderings with shadows and ray tracing and such. But the surface
imagery doesn't show up in wireframe for obvious reasons.

Also, on really high end boards, I sometimes like the top layer traces to
show up in the color renderings. It gives more of a photorealistic effect. I
currently accomplish this with a surface image as well.

Chris



"James Jackson" <JOJ@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:-sSdnYnjsaaj3BzYnZ2dnUVZ_tadnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris,

So... all you want to see is the bare board copper, and its' associated
height? What about the components on the PCB?

Regards,

James Jackson
Oztronics


"Christopher Ott" <chrisott *at* ottelectronics *dot* com> wrote in
message news:Aa-dncky0aoz2uLYnZ2dnUVZ_segnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yes, the Z axis would need to be extruded by a nominal distance to show
the depth of the copper.

Chris


"James Jackson" <JOJ@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:wNydnUwGDJDyP-PYnZ2dnUVZ_v-tnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris,

Gerber data is 2-D data. That is, X & Y co-ordinates.

What you are wanting is 3-D. You would need a third dimension (let's
call it Z) that is not in the Gerber data.

Regards,

James Jackson
Oztronics

"Christopher Ott" <chrisott *at* ottelectronics *dot* com> wrote in
message news:x9SdnYENBuLHnODYnZ2dnUVZ_r-onZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm curious if anyone out there knows of a method to convert Gerber-x
files to some type of 3D CAD format. I prefer .sat, but I can import
most common formats. This would be quite helpful for creating
photorealistic 3D renderings. I'm using Protel99SE in the event there
is some built in method that I haven't found.

I know that one of the versions of Protel (after 99SE) could export 3D
models from the board in 3D function, but the rest of the "upgrade" was
such a piece of *** that I couldn't bring myself to buy it...

Any ideas?

Chris










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